Washing machine



J. B. KIRBY.

WASHING MACHINE.

Mar. 6, 1923.

FILED JAN-29.1921.

d9 BIHVEHTOR BY v v I .1 I 1f I I v Q 'earca.

JAMES B. KIRBY, OF CLEVEIJAN'D, OHIO.

WASHING MACHINE. V

Application filed January 29, 1921. Serial No. 440,873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Washing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to machines for the .rapid and convenient washing of clothing and fabrics, especially for domestic use, and its objects are the provision of a simple and inexpensive machine whereby the clothing after having been thoroughly cleansed can be centrifuged, the provision of a machine of this character which can be shifted from its washing arrangement to its drying arrangement without waste of liquid; the provision of a machine possessing a minimum number of parts, and one which is susceptible of easy and thorough cleansing; the provision of a machine of this character which will operate with the employment of a minimumamount of cleansing liquid; the provision of a domestic centrifugal machine of a high degree of stability; while further objects and advantages of the invention wlll become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part of this application I have illustrat ed one embodiment of my said invention but without intent to limit myself to the features of construction therein shown. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through my improved washin machine showing the parts in washing posltion; Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the parts in extracting position; and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively bottom and top views of said machine drawn to a smaller scale.

Describing .by reference character the parts shown in these drawings, 1 represents a cylindrical sheet metal casing having projecting.therefrom..the hollow well 2. The

V bottom of this casing is defined the plate 3 which constitutes slightly more than a semicircle and joins the wall 4 of the well,

. which is here shown as constituting a semi cylindrical chamber located at one side of the casing axis. Located in the angle between the walls 3 and 4 is the axle -5 from which project ,the arms 6 and 7, the former constituting a reinforcement for the wall 4 and thelatter a reinforcement for the wall 3. Journaled in the axle 5 and in a bearing 8 formed at the outer end of the arm 6 is a shaft 10 whose inner end carries the foramlnous cylindrical backet 11 and whose outer end carries the friction wheel 12. The basket is detachably secured to the shaft by suitable means such as the nut 13 and is also preferably stiffened by radial ribs 14 although its detailed construction is not important. At its opposite end this basket is formed with an inturned flange 15 terminating in a protected circular rim 16.

' Carried by the outer end of the arm 6 is a bracket 18 having at its end a bearing 19, and journaled between this hearing and a companion bearing formed in the wall of the bearing 8 is a radial shaft 20 on which is slidably mounted the friction disk. 21. Carried by the other arm, 7 is an electric motor 22 whose shaft is provided with a friction plate 23. The disk 21 is located between and in contact with both the plate 23 and the wheel 12, and in this embodiment I have shown the motor shaft as having sufiicient end play to maintain driving contact at both points, a spring 24 being employed behind the motor shaft for assurance. I have shown the axis of the plate 23 as located 0pposite the rim of the wheel 12 so that when the disk 21 is near the periphery of the wheel the resultant speed willbe small by reason of the relation of said disk to both plate and wheel, and so that when said disk is moved inwardly the resultant speed increases for both reasons.

The ends of the axle are formed with trunnions 25 which are pivotedupon a horizontal axis to the frame 26, 26, so that when thecontainer is upright all the liquid will collect in the well 4 and when it is horizontal it will all run back into. the container.

The upper end of the container is formed opposite the wall 3 with a fixed top-portion 27 which extends sufficiently high to prevent the overflow of the liquid,and the rest of it is covered with a hinged or movable lid 28. I have shown a pin 29 and sector 30 for fixing the container in the desired position. I have also shown a lever 31 engaging the hub of the friction disk 21 to shift its position and vary the speed of the basket.

Forwashing' purposes the container is set in horizontal position and the basket rotated rather slowly with suflicient water to submerge its lowest portion; when sufliciently washed the container is rotated to LIX 31 shifted to high speed position; a speed of about 800 R. P. M. is very satisfactory, the Weight of the liquid in the well forming a very etficient ballast and this without splashing. The process can be repeated Without waste of liquid until the liquid becomes fouled.

It will be understood that I do not restrict myself to the features of construction herein illustrated which are susceptible of great variation within the scope of my invention, especially as to the design of the driving connections, and power arrangements. For example it is within my invention to employ a gear arrangement which shall reverse the direction of revolution of the basket at stated times during the washing operation. Also the design and arrangement of the casing,

.Well, and basket can be changed, and the method of,mounting so that I limit myself only as set forth in my claims which I desire may be construed as brtza dly as the prior art will permit.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is-: 1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a cylindrical casing provided with an eccentric well projecting from one end thereof, means pivotally supporting said casing whereby said well may be moved into either a lower or higher position relatively to the rest of the casing, a foraminous basket journaled in said casing upon its own axis, and means for rotating said basket in all positions of said casing.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a cylindrical casing having a semi-cylindrical well projecting eccentrically from one end, a foraminous cylindrical basket mounted in said casing for rotation about its own axis, means pivotally supporting said casing so that said well may be caused either to receive or to discharge the Washing liquid, an electric motor carried by said casing, and driving connections between said motor and basket operable in all positions of said basket.

3. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a cylindrical casing, a foraminous cylindrical basket mounted therein for rotation about its own axis, means supporting said casing for rotation about an axis which is perpendicular to its own axis, an eccentric well carried by said casing upon the side which is raised adapted to receive liquid therefrom when the casing is upright and to return liquid thereto as the casing is returned to horizontal position, and means for rotating said basket in all positions of said casing.

4. In a washing machine, in combination, a cylindrical, liquid containing casing, a

shaft. co-axial therewith journaled in and projecting through the bottom of said casing, a foraminous cylindrical basket secured to signature.

the inner end of said shaft, driving means basket concentrically located inside the same and journaled upon their common axis, said casing having a c osable opening at one point and said basket also having an opening, means .for rotating said basket at different speeds, and means for rotating said casing upon a horizontal axis, said casing having at one side of its horizontal axis a well adapted either to receive the liquid from said casing or to return it to said casing depending upon the position of the casing relatively to said last named axis.

6. In a Washing machine, in combination, a cylindrical casing, a foraminous basket mounted inside the same and revoluble about its own axis, means pivotally supporting said casing on a horizontal axis, the axis of said basket'being perpendicular to said pivot axis, an electric motor rigid with said casing and operatively connected to said basket in driving relation, and a Well carried by said casing and adapted to receive the liquid therein when the casing axis is upright. 1

7. In a combined washing and wringing apparatus, in combination a cylindrical casing pivoted on a horizontal axis, a foraminous cylindrical basket rotatably supported inside said casing so as to be rotatable about its own axis, said axes being perpendicular to each other, an electric motor carried by said casing, and variable speed driving -mechanism' operably connecting said motor to said basket in all positions of adjustment of said casing.

8. In a combined washing and wringing apparatus, in combination a supporting frame, a cylindrical casing, pivoted to said frame on a horizontal axis which is transverse to the axis of the casing, a shaft journaled to said casing in line with the axis thereof and perpendicular to said first axis, a foraminous cylindrical basket secured to said shaft inside said casing, an electric motor carried by the exterior of said casing at one side of said horizontal axis, an eccentric well projecting from theend wall of said casing upon the oppositeside of said horizontal axis, a driving wheel carried by said shaft outside the casing, and variable speed driving devices operatively connecting said motor and wheel.

Intestimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my JAMES B. 'KIRBY,

in combination, 

